The Habanero Hundred is designed to put you in an extreme situation both physically and mentally, but with many comforts that you don’t normally get with a big loop 100. The relay will also allow you to run with a team, friends, and family to complete this monumental task.
The race is held at the beautiful 7IL ranch just outside of Bellville, Texas. The ranch has been open for more than 5 generations, and it was opened for public use in 1999. The facility is over 1,150 acres with water/electric and RV hookups as well.
The Habanero Hundred is set up to start at 12:00pm, and the 30 hour cutoff will end at 6:00pm on Sunday. All runners will have their choice of swag for the event via ultrasignup, the race will be chip timed, and we will have free pictures for all runners. There will be belt buckles for 100k/100m runners and medals for the 50k and 100M/100K relay teams. The 30k, 20k, 10k runners will have an all new Elevation Culture Medal.
The course is a mix of single track, open meadow running and some small creek crossing along the property. The course is non technical trail and very soft footing. The trail has been used heavily for horses over the past 150 years so the soil is soft and sandy.
100 mile runners will run 16 loops of 6.3 miles
100k runners will complete 10 loops of 6.3 miles
50k runners will complete 5 loops of 6.3 miles
30K runners will complete 3 loops of 6.3 miles
20k runners will complete 2 loops of 6.3 miles
10k runners will complete 1 loop of 6.3 miles
The course is small on purpose so that you are never more than 3.0 miles away from aid. This means if you are walking, you are just an hour from aid. You have to ice up at each aid station and keep as cool as possible. We picked this park because it also has some decent cover so that you aren’t always super exposed to the sun. The reason we use an out and back is so that you see people and will be able to encourage each other as the loops pile up. We picked a park that had showers within 100 feet of the start so that you can fully cool off if you want to. And while starting at noon seems really mean, it is meant to get you in the sun while you are fresh. We don’t want you to have spent all day in the sun and be zombie walking at night. You should be looking forward to really running hard when the sun is setting. I have searched for a park for the past year and a half that would fit the bill to make this race safe enough to put on.
On top of all that above we have some AMAZING ultrarunning volunteers that will be at the aid stations. Guys and Gals that have run tons of ultras, 100 miler races and beyond. These amazing volunteers might just be your best friend when the race is over.
So you as a runner will have everything at your fingertips to help you get to the finish line. When you sign up for a race (ANY race) you should know your limitations and the risks that are involved in a race. The Habanero Hundred is quite different in a few ways and I want to give you some advice to think about.
1. A buff, a bandana, and arm sleeves can all help you stay as cool. A buff dipped in water will help to keep the blood cool around your neck. You can put ice into a bandana and wrap it around your neck or head. Arm sleeves can also be stuffed with ice to keep the blood vessels in your wrists cool.
2. Cotton shirts will help to keep moisture against your skin instead of away from it. While most people think cotton is the devil because it chafes, it can help to keep moisture against the skin while you’re in the sun. Your sweat will actually help to cool you. As the sun sets maybe toss on a tech shirt and change back to cotton when you start to get hot again.
3. Run within your limits. Most of you are out there heat training all the time like me and realize that hot weather makes your heart rate go up. You need to be smart while its HOT and not be in the red when it doesn’t help you. Remember 100m/100k runners, the time to attack the course is from 6:00pm-6:00am when you are out of the sunlight.
4. Electrolytes. Taking salt, salt pills, or salted items is going to be key when you run in the sun. Make sure that you are comfortable with salt water before race day. We will have hammer endurolytes, the Hammer Fizz packets, table salt, and salted items to snack on as well.
LESS
Hot AF. But that's what you signed for
The heat is no joke, you know it beforehand and prepare for it. But the terrain isn't either. The trails are used for horse riding so are mostly loose white … MORE
The heat is no joke, you know it beforehand and prepare for it. But the terrain isn’t either. The trails are used for horse riding so are mostly loose white sands, which adds to the difficulty.
Don’t sign here for a PR or even to race it. It is a race against yourself, knowing, listening to, and pushing your body to its limits.
As always with TROT, great volunteers, you’ll get cheers and ice (lot of both) at each aid station.
This year had major pre-race issues with hours of waiting to retrieve your bib (race day only!) but looking forward for them to be resolved next year.
One Hot Habanero
Really hot start, 6.2 laps x 5 for 31 miles. 2 track, 1 track and grass. So for fun throw in tons of sand, rocks and roots. They promised lots … MORE
Really hot start, 6.2 laps x 5 for 31 miles. 2 track, 1 track and grass. So for fun throw in tons of sand, rocks and roots. They promised lots of support in 10k there were two manned and one unmanned aid stations. This is the hardest race I can remember.